tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10884288401675672082012-01-29T01:23:38.720-08:00A day in the life of an art student turned dilettante rockstar turned corporate rat turned knitaholic newlywed turned blissfully frazzled stay-at-home mom.lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.comBlogger3481100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-74757536390591361072011-12-20T08:22:00.000-08:002011-12-20T08:32:16.433-08:00

With Christmas fast approaching, I spent a recent night wrapping gifts. Lots of gifts. So many gifts that I didn't go to sleep until after midnight. I figured I'd earned the right to sleep in the next day, which happened to be a Saturday when Vince would conveniently be available to watch the kids. I left my wrapping paper and ribbon in a neat pile on the dining room table and retired to bed.The

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-34154861659713088752011-10-11T20:55:00.000-07:002011-10-12T07:39:51.268-07:00

I'm not a girly-girl. Never have been. I'm not a big fan of ruffles, frilly undergarments, beauty pageants, or pink lip gloss. So I guess it's no surprise that my daughter would be the same. At the tender age of 19 months, Calliope already has a definite tomboy streak. Some might even say that her behavior at times is downright unladylike. Though I would prefer that she leave her pants on and

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-9305758699026349362011-08-17T15:18:00.000-07:002011-08-17T15:34:19.746-07:00

Just now, after Benjamin went to the potty and was putting his underpants back on (backwards, I might add), he bent over to inspect his posterior and said to me, "Mama, I have a little butt." I chuckled affectionately and said yes, he did indeed have a little butt. He then came up to me, inspected MY posterior, looked me dead in the eye and said, "Mama, you have a big butt." Oh, Benjamin... I

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-48359382945976325072011-07-06T21:37:00.000-07:002011-07-06T22:16:59.636-07:00

Remember that "new baby" I told you about in my last post? The one named Lily Chan Photography? Well, like a real newborn, it's been a needy little thing. I spend so much time tending to it that it might as well have colic.Someone asked me recently how much time I spend each day on LCP, and I broke it down like this: on an average day, I spend about two hours working on my website/marketing/

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-26704109202870475072011-06-22T14:12:00.001-07:002011-06-22T20:41:40.218-07:00

You may have noticed that it's been a while since my last post. Did I fall off the face of the earth? Contract gangrene of the fingertips? Get really, really lazy? No, no, and maybe a little. The truth is that I've taken on a new project, one that has eaten up what precious little free time I have. I've decided to start my own business: Lily Chan Photography.I've always loved taking pictures. I

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-6694048276523189992011-06-09T06:55:00.000-07:002011-06-09T06:57:30.317-07:00

SHE'S A LADY!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-73350191671223960822011-06-05T20:23:00.000-07:002011-06-06T14:21:52.221-07:00

You may have noticed that it's been a long time since my last bento post. You know why? It's because I'd been hit by a serious case of the bento blahs. It seemed that almost every bento I packed included a PBNFSM (Peanut Butter Nutella and Flaxseed Meal) sandwich. BOOORING! Thankfully, I discovered a new way to get some grains into the Boo's bento boxes: onigiri, AKA, rice squished together into

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-6688500342980532112011-05-30T22:07:00.000-07:002011-05-30T22:16:38.934-07:00

The weather was sunny over the weekend, so we took the kids to the pool. It was only Calliope's third time in the water, but you wouldn't know it by watching her.Lord, help us all.

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-58515535690479210542011-05-22T14:21:00.000-07:002011-05-22T21:11:32.984-07:00

Ever since Benjamin and Calliope came along, most holidays have lost their sheen. Christmas? It's for the little ones now. Birthdays? Bah! Valentine's Day? Too much trouble. But Mother's Day? Well, Mother's Day is what it's all about. It's the one day I get to bask in all the glory that being a housewife, homemaker, and full-time mommy gives me. Yes, I realize that sounded delusional. Sleep

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-84793058813001105042011-05-13T14:43:00.000-07:002011-05-13T14:52:56.305-07:00

There's been a lot of this going on lately:Are they singing a duet? Having a wordless free-flow face-off? Or maybe they're arguing. Hmmm... Come to think of it, Vince and I have had a few spats similiar to this one, but without the hand-holding. Or the smiling. Maybe that's the key to working things out: always keep a smile on your face, and when things get tough, reach out and hold hands. I'm

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-82977020027597192572011-05-10T13:06:00.000-07:002011-05-10T13:27:38.817-07:00

Now that the weather has gotten warmer, we've been hitting the pool. Benjamin has never been a big fan of the water, but Calliope is a different story. As soon as we arrived, she behaved as though the cabana was her runway. It started with her walk from the lounge chairs to the poolside.Or should I say it started with her STRUT from the lounge chairs to the poolside? She may have learned to walk

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-26533572234925484192011-04-27T13:35:00.000-07:002011-04-27T13:55:51.273-07:00

Last Sunday morning, I found Benjamin in his playroom quietly coloring in his new coloring book. He seemed so fixated on the task that I stopped to see what it was that he was coloring.. A shark. With green... Um... protuberances., "Hey, Ben Ben," I asked. "What are those green things?" Continuing his coloring, he mumbled something unintelligible. "What, Ben Ben? I didn't hear you." He stopped

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-39418760847968341682011-04-18T08:23:00.001-07:002011-04-18T08:32:20.635-07:00

Last week, at the age of one year, one month, and 18 days, Calliope started walking. I captured this vid of her toddling around in a racquetball court at the Y and sent it to some friends and family: The responses were enthusiastic! "So cute!" "Those irresistible legs!" "Adorable!" My favorite response, however, came from Yvonne, who can always be counted on to keep it real. She said, "Now more

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-81154384603331222562011-04-12T12:17:00.000-07:002011-04-13T21:57:15.489-07:00

We last traveled to Kansas City in November of 2009. Then, there were only two reasons for us to visit - my brother Leon (AKA Ree) and his wife Claire. Now, there are four more reasons to visit - my nephew Cristian and the Ilardi family -Sheila, Marco, and Benjamin's long lost love Kayla! . Benjamin dressed for the occasion by donning the pilot uniform that Kayla got him for his third birthday.

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-43469004543284698442011-03-30T23:07:00.000-07:002011-03-30T23:28:34.849-07:00

Last week, Julie and I met for lunch at GM (Ghetto Mall, AKA Westfield Culver City, FKA Fox Hills Mall). Afterwards, as we were walking through the mall's main atrium, we spotted a strange sight and this conversation ensued... Julie: What's that?Lily: What? J: That. (Points.) It's a stage. L: I think it's something for that new Simon Cowell show.J: You should sing!L: What? NOJ: GET UP THEREL: Ok,

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-2572447810343956452011-03-21T08:29:00.000-07:002011-03-21T08:32:42.353-07:00

I don't know if he's channelling Perry Farrell, Glenn Danzig, or Zack de la Rocha in this rap rendition of the ABCs, but Benjamin's got the whole rockstar vibe down with the totally trashed room in the background!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-43528213866684631002011-03-20T08:10:00.001-07:002011-03-20T08:13:48.368-07:00

Meet the beautiful Ella Carmelle Balino, born to proud parents Deb and George on March 16 at 8:00 am on the dot. Weighing in at a healthy 7 lbs 5 oz, she has a gorgeous head of thick wavy hair and adorable pouty lips. Both mommy and baby are doing well. Ella, welcome to the world, and Deb and George, welcome to our world! :) We love you all!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-75156740868028163562011-03-15T21:14:00.000-07:002011-03-16T08:10:53.092-07:00

My sister Deb is having a baby. Well, Deb's not really my sister. Not in the biological sense, anyway. But Deb is my most treasured friend in this world, and she is the closest thing that I have ever known to a sister, so that's what I call her and that's what she calls me. So yeah, my sister Deb is having a baby, and once that baby comes into this world, I will be the baby's godmother. So it's

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-36991207822911349072011-03-11T21:11:00.000-08:002011-03-11T21:19:55.674-08:00

While waiting for his Daddy to try on clothes at a Kansas City Lucky Jeans store a few days ago, Benjamin decided to take advantage of the three-way mirror and practice his dance moves. I don't know about you, but my favorite parts were the semi-voguing body slams up against the mirror. WORK IT, BOO!!More coming up soon on our Kansas City trip!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-69596455877288644722011-03-03T15:07:00.000-08:002011-03-03T23:25:55.948-08:00

In case you didn't know, both Benjamin and his sister were born on the same day. On February 23 three years ago, Benjamin was born. On February 23 of last year, Calliope was born. This February 23 no babies were born to us (as Vince breathes a sigh of relief), but we still had a lot of celebrating to do because it would be the first of many joint birthdays. I started off the big day by dressing

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-68217797862099550552011-02-22T20:27:00.000-08:002011-02-23T08:03:53.531-08:00

Yes, there really are forty candles on that cupcake.My beloved recently hit a major milestone. Did he hike Mount Everest? Run a marathon? Crack the top ten list of best scores for his World of Warcraft-like iPhone addiction Haypi Kingdom? Nope, nope, and HEEELLLLLL no! He turned 40!.We started off the celebrating with a birthday lunch at Vince's favorite restaurant Hop Li. We had a terrific time

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-90171864710150191462011-02-09T07:35:00.000-08:002011-02-09T07:36:54.358-08:00

Apparently, my face is.

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-76473685735071227292011-02-03T15:10:00.000-08:002011-02-03T15:12:10.460-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-43439150532833718942011-01-28T20:17:00.000-08:002011-01-28T23:05:52.095-08:00

Benjamin's first year of life was rough. By the time he was 7 weeks old, he'd had two transfusions. He spent the week before his first Christmas as well as the week after his first birthday getting transfused, too. He continued spending time in and out of the doc's office for the next six months, when suddenly he seemed to get better, and for a long time, we almost forgot that transfusions were

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-7414062150821161282011-01-25T14:14:00.000-08:002011-01-25T17:25:41.013-08:00

On the left: hard-cooked egg with some ketchup on the side; cubed baked yam; and PBN&FM sandwiches. On the right: hard-cooked egg with ketchup; PBN&FM sandwiches; and yogurt. YAWN! I've been in a bento rut lately. Instead of branching out into exciting new bento territory (I am dying to try this carrot puree muffin recipe), I've been sticking to the usual suspects - egg (boiled or fried), PBN&FM

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-82579510012612152602011-01-19T19:45:00.001-08:002011-01-19T20:50:37.337-08:00

Marina del Rey is a beachy community nearby known for turtle racing (Brennan's Irish Pub), picturesque waterside walks (the marina), and overpriced, mediocre surf 'n' turf (most of the restaurants on Admiralty Way). Now, it may get to be known for something else - Glen Alla Park, the freakin' awesome new playground on the corner of Glencoe and Alla.. So what makes this park so awesome? For

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-88241504682631128202011-01-16T14:45:00.000-08:002011-01-16T14:59:04.577-08:00

Practice makes.......perfect!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-77452548879255229132011-01-10T14:06:00.000-08:002011-01-10T14:27:53.219-08:00

We're going to Kansas City in March to visit our loved ones: my brother Leon, his wife Claire, and my nephew Cristian, and also our close friends Sheila, Marco, and Kayla. Woohoo! But even though I'm really excited about our upcoming trip, I'm aware that Kansas City is considerably colder than Los Angeles. Just check out this recent picture of Kayla. I'm breaking out in goosebumps just looking

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-84576278794208394952011-01-07T19:51:00.000-08:002011-01-07T20:27:17.061-08:00

Our New Year's Even plans last year were modest: get together with friends Julie and Shawn to play our favorite board game The Settlers of Cataan. Unfortunately, the powers that be (and by "powers that be" I'm talking about my then-unborn daughter) had other plans. . There I am, 6.5 months preggers and laid up in the hospital hoping that my daughter isn't planning an escape. Obviously, Vince and

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-6268890445150404732010-12-29T20:47:00.001-08:002010-12-30T06:52:25.489-08:00

A friend of mine once characterized parenthood as "long days, short years." Yes, the days can feel long. Today, for example, was veeeerrrrry long. Maybe it was because it began at 5:30 am when Calliope woke up (woke up for good, that is - she'd already awakened previously just to say "Wassup?" at 1 am and then again at 3am). But then the years seem to flash by. I feel like it was just the other

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-78751968766560169472010-12-27T14:12:00.001-08:002010-12-27T14:56:21.732-08:00

After Benjamin's birth, I signed up for the SAHM's version of Match.com: Gymboree. As you may recall, we were in the same class as another mom and baby, Catherine and Lucy. Benjamin was about six weeks old, and Lucy was about four months old. At that time, our playdates were easy to schedule, but then naptimes, doctor visits, baby classes, and life in general got in the way, and it became tougher

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-25095655951232511482010-12-22T21:21:00.001-08:002010-12-22T21:52:13.237-08:00

Last week was the yearly holiday celebration at Benjamin's preschool. Parents were invited to attend, and we were treated to coffee, breakfast, and a musical performance by the students. The kids had been preparing for weeks, but the actual songs were to be a surprise for the parents. I tried asking Benjamin what he'd be singing, and he replied, "The Calliope Song." Hmmm... Either he's pulling my

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-54916101613178694222010-12-18T21:23:00.000-08:002010-12-18T22:14:21.701-08:00

Calliope watches her Uncle Ree slay some bad guys on the Xbox. Yes, Calliope - boys will be boys..The month of November was a busy one for the Chan Clan, but by far the coolest thing that happened in the midst of all the madness was that my little brother Leon (AKA"Ree") came to LA for a visit. When I found out that he would be spending his first Thanksgiving as a father alone (his wife and son

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-74486274344492426702010-12-16T22:07:00.000-08:002010-12-17T08:04:27.279-08:00

One of the reasons why this month is so busy for us is because we know a lot of people with November birthdays. That's a lot of Scorpios, which means that's a lot of parties, because if there's one thing that we Scorpios love, it's partying. Yeah, baby! .The first birthday we celebrated was my best friend Deb's. Now, Deb and I go way back. Waaaay back. Back to the days when Deb was still working

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-41940425899786826282010-12-14T12:33:00.001-08:002010-12-14T13:46:38.226-08:00

I've been a slacker when it comes to posting on this blog lately. I'd been consistently writing about every painfully minute detail of my life to the tune of two or three posts a week, but it's been over a week since my last post. The reason why I haven't been able to maintain my usual level of virtual verbal diarrhea is because the month of November is nuts for me. NUTS! We know about a dozen

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-1545223271987804862010-12-06T21:51:00.001-08:002010-12-06T22:31:11.977-08:00

I've been trying to change up Benjamin's bento lunches lately. For example, the above bento contains something new - sliced persimmons. Mmm! But it also contains two things that are found in about 90% of all of his bento: PB&J sandwiches and eggs. I began feeling guilty about how often I was sending him to school with PB&J, so I've attempted to healthy things up. Now, instead of PB&J sandwiches,

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-72693453164035421132010-11-29T13:03:00.000-08:002010-11-29T13:12:43.052-08:00

I really enjoy being a mother. I love spending each day with my kids, I love hearing them call me "Mama," and I love seeing their little faces light up when I turn on the televi-- never mind. I even enjoy some of the things that many moms typically don't. Take breastfeeding, for example. I was happy that I nursed Benjamin as long as I did, and I am enjoying nursing Calliope. Lately, however,

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-2330422524377886872010-11-24T14:16:00.001-08:002010-11-24T22:05:23.078-08:00

You may have noticed someone's been missing from my posts lately: Kayla. You know Kayla. The adorable little girl Benjamin and I first met in the neighborhood park? The daughter of my dear friend Sheila? The love of Benjamin's life? Well, the reason why I haven't mentioned her lately is because she moved. To Kansas City.. I know what you're thinking: What the heck is in Kansas City? Well, to

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-10087684239469129552010-11-23T14:22:00.000-08:002010-11-23T14:49:14.886-08:00

The other day, Benjamin and I were sitting on the floor reading a book when he suddenly looked at me very intently and asked, "Mama got big balls?" WHAAAAAAT?? I nearly fell over. But then I realized that he was talking about this:.Ah, yes, my silver stud earrings which would look like balls to a toddler. And so when he followed up with "Calliope got little balls?", I knew he was talking about

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-63605999504999133282010-11-16T13:42:00.001-08:002010-11-16T15:06:02.208-08:00

Halloween... Ah, Halloween! As I love to say, it's the most wonderful time of the year. And I could hardly believe that it has been an entire year since we strutted our stuff as blue-haired punk rocker family. I'll admit that I went a little nuts last Halloween creating our ensembles, and I'd had big plans for our costumes this year. My original vision was that we'd be a glam-rock family -

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-44515543117409480402010-11-09T21:25:00.001-08:002010-11-10T15:06:51.163-08:00

Looking like roadkill at the end of a 12-hour late shift. But check out my flair!.Back in high school, I worked as a server at the Hard Rock Cafe Singapore. The male servers got to wear black pants and polo shirts. The female servers got to wear super-short white dresses with ruffled aprons. In Singapore, we called them pinafores. In the U.S., we woulda called them shirts. Or sexual harassment

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-4077306470026042542010-11-08T09:17:00.000-08:002010-11-08T09:22:00.867-08:00

Calliope hasn't yet mastered the skill of crawling forwards. Like her brother, she's figured out how to crawl backwards, but that doesn't really get her where she wants to go. What she can do, however, is use her chubby little legs to move herself around on the hardwood floors while she's sitting on the potty. She'll scoot over to a nearby table or chair, and then use her arms to pull herself to

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-59121815794313830022010-11-01T20:47:00.000-07:002010-11-01T21:06:30.709-07:00

And now, for your bento viewing pleasure.... Here's a bento I made for Benjamin that had four different foods in it: apple chunks dipped in lemon juice; mini-PB&J sandwiches; edamame, and hard-cooked eggs sprinkled with paprika. I had high hopes for this bento, but it came back only half-eaten. I think that I got overeager and tried to cram too many things into that one tiny box. As a result, the

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-51637158440766423062010-11-01T08:44:00.001-07:002010-11-01T09:55:05.470-07:00

Waiting to see the shrink with mommy.I've never been shy about the fact that I suffered from postpartum depression after Benjamin was born. In fact, I remember my openness about what I was going through scared some people off. Here's what a typical exchange between another new mom and myself sounded like:.Other New Mom: Hi! How old's your baby?Me: Six weeks old. O.N.M.: Awwww, mine's also about

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-29947245447305146012010-10-28T14:54:00.001-07:002010-10-28T15:47:31.786-07:00

Last weekend, we got gussied up for our second-ever family photo shoot. This was no mean feat - the weekend had been a whirlwind of playdates, parties, and general family mayhem, and we were exhausted. But we took a deep breath, put on our Sunday best, and strutted our Chan family stuff out on the Venice boardwalk. I even managed to slap on some lipstick!.Here's our photog Steph with all her

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-25067369021515815422010-10-26T08:19:00.000-07:002010-10-26T08:28:45.503-07:00

Two milestones in one blog post. I have to admit that I feel a little guilty about that, especially when I compare it to the nauseatingly over-the-top coverage that Benjamin's first haircut and first tooth received. I guess that's what happens with the second-born. Sorry, Calliope! If it makes you feel any better, my own mommy milestones have received short shrift, too. I never got around to

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-44568762058781992872010-10-21T09:33:00.000-07:002010-10-21T10:35:40.871-07:00

When I first started practicing Elimination Communication with Benjamin two years ago, I got a lot of nay-saying. "Why bother?" "Let 'em go in a diaper as long as possible - it's just easier!" "Sounds like a lot of work." These were some of the comments I frequently heard. One Debbie Downer scoffed, "You only have one baby right now. Let's see you do that with two kids!" I have to admit that her

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-42402333042778956362010-10-18T21:08:00.001-07:002010-10-18T21:09:29.519-07:00

She knows how to use 'em!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-86364381498700646652010-10-15T08:04:00.000-07:002010-10-15T08:28:55.403-07:00

A few weeks ago, my mom came for a visit. The last time she saw the kids was six months ago, so they had changed quite a bit. Calliope in particular had grown from a wrinkled newborn to a chubby little girl who bore an uncanny resemblance to her namesake. As you can see, she looks like my mom's Mini-Me; she has my mom's same smile and same face shape. My mom lamented that she even inherited her

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-67679286725978768722010-10-12T13:33:00.001-07:002010-10-12T18:07:24.502-07:00

For the longest time, Calliope wasn't much more than a noisy, messy little doll to Benjamin. She ate, she cried, she pooped, and sometimes, when we were really lucky, she even slept. But now that she's getting bigger, older, and more aware, she's interacting more with her brother, and I think he's really enjoying having a new playmate in the house.. He loves to kiss and hug her, talk to her,

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-20845494628421774272010-10-07T08:50:00.000-07:002010-10-12T14:00:27.687-07:00

Redwood Village is big on fostering independence in its young charges. As such, they prefer that parents prepare uncomplicated lunches kids are able to feed to themselves. Concerned that my petite Boo might not get enough from many kid-friendly American options like PB&J and mac 'n' cheese, I decided to go bento..Bento is Japanese in origin, and it means "meal in a box." Traditional bento have a

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-43316036973668044192010-10-04T20:51:00.001-07:002010-10-15T08:29:17.757-07:00

We're often asked how we came up with the name "Calliope." I answer that I come from a long line of singers and then, depending on how much time I have (or how much I feel like boring the asking party), I'll offer a few of the following tidbits:Calliope is the Latinized form of "Kalliope," the Greek muse of epic poetry.A calliope is a musical instruments consisting of a series of steam whistles

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-15458456979853338882010-10-01T08:49:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:52:23.088-07:00

Benjamin loves stickers. What toddler doesn't? Unfortunately, any small piece of paper with a sticky back and an image on the front qualifies as a sticker to him, and that includes.... ...postage stamps. Oops! After I tried to salvage what I could from the three booklets of stamps Benjamin got into, I patiently explained to him that these were very special stickers that were not to be touched by

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-81663026667022949242010-09-28T13:46:00.001-07:002010-10-12T08:54:00.415-07:00

At the beginning of this month, Benjamin began attending classes at Redwood Village, thereby making the leap from toddler to preschooler. PRESCHOOLER! Wow, where did the time go? It seemed like just the other day that I found out we were pregnant with him, and now he's going to school. It seemed like we only just toured Redwood and put our names on the waitlist. In reality, it was almost two

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-71726209579824817682010-09-27T19:58:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:50:33.499-07:00

As I've mentioned previously, Calliope's hair has supernatural powers. No, it can't read minds, cast invisible protective force fields, or teleport; it defies the rules of physics by refusing to lay down. So after seven months of watching her hair grow taller and taller instead of longer and longer, I decided it was time to put the smack down on it. My weapon of choice? Good old H2O..At first it

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-528003348432216532010-09-19T15:08:00.001-07:002010-10-12T13:55:17.117-07:00

Back in mid-July, we took our first vacation as a family of four. Our destination? The far-off locale of San Diego! The main purpose of the trip was to meet up with Vince's cousins at Legoland, but we squeezed in some quality time with our favorite San Diegans (San Diegites? San Diegolos?) Mike, Kelly, and Sydney Williams.. The last time we saw the Williams fam was about a year ago when Calliope

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-82624261206375138252010-09-11T21:05:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:58:56.295-07:00

With the end of summer near, we've been spending as much time as possible outside. Last weekend, we walked over to the neighborhood playground with our neighbors Shawn, Julie, Nolan, and baby Kieran. Up until this point, Calliope had spent most of our playground trips tucked into her stroller or into my sling, but not this time. This time she was gonna hang out with the big kids! We plopped her

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-42165622293533593682010-09-07T09:38:00.000-07:002010-10-12T09:01:04.128-07:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.... That one was worth exactly 70:. Oh, Oliver, no matter what happens, no matter how many rugrats I have or how many years go by, you will always - always! - be my first baby. .

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-26150081391973680732010-09-02T14:19:00.000-07:002010-10-12T13:57:03.753-07:00

A few days ago, while I was puttering in the kitchen, Benjamin was around the corner in his playroom. I could hear him in there making all sorts of noise, and then all of the sudden, it got quiet. Then I heard him say in a soft, slow voice, "Eyes... Nose... Mouse..." Mouse? Huh? I ran over to see what was going on.. The Boo was standing in front of his MagnaDoodle and had drawn upon it a face. A

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-91503442467286423742010-08-30T14:09:00.000-07:002010-10-15T09:29:28.625-07:00

It was a day like any other. Vince was at work, and I was at home with the kids. Naptime rolled around, and Benjamin spent a good fifteen minutes in his crib screaming for his beloved:In case you couldn't understand him, he was saying, "I want Kayla!" over and over. And over. He eventually cried himself to sleep and must have spent his naptime dreaming about her, because the first words out of

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-52916516746680308852010-08-20T21:30:00.000-07:002010-10-15T09:30:33.061-07:00

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-5954621350611510912010-08-15T13:57:00.000-07:002010-10-15T09:33:02.474-07:00

I love living in the city. I love the fact that I can shop for Chinese, American, and Indian groceries within a five-mile radius. I love that no matter how obscure the service, there will be a provider available. And I really love that I can walk around wearing knee-high leather boots with a mohawked toddler in my tattooed arms - and no one will stare at me. But sometimes, it can get to you: the

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-87899871869285620372010-08-09T15:04:00.000-07:002010-10-15T09:35:35.075-07:00

During my last pregnancy, people would comment on how unique Benjamin's hair was and ask me whether or not I had any exciting hairdos in mind for Calliope. The answer was that I did not. Yes, I did want my daughter to have just as distinctive (and low maintenance) of a coif as her brother, but I had no intention of mohawk-ing her head. I just didn't know what the little girl equivalent of a

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-58978958183230720882010-08-03T14:45:00.000-07:002010-10-15T09:37:26.105-07:00

The first years of parenthood are marked by our children's milestones. Now that Benjamin is two-and-a-half, we've been able to check several off the list. His first tooth came at four months of age. He had his first bite of solid food at six months. His took his first steps the day after his first birthday. And now, and two-and-a-half years, he's hit a big one: his first crush..Benjamin first met

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-78642491802105599412010-07-29T13:40:00.000-07:002010-10-15T09:44:34.797-07:00

I'll give you five bucks if you can tell me what this is :. (disclaimer: Even if you answer correctly, you will receive no compensation beyond the feeling of smug satisfaction that accompanies being right.) Give up? Well, the above image is what you get when this... .... meets this....No, I didn't grab Benjamin and smash his face into the couch in a fit of terrible two's-induced exasperation.

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-26906922357592669752010-07-27T13:52:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:25:29.951-07:00

On July 22, Julie, Shawn, and Nolan welcomed the newest Bowen into their family: Kieran Reed Bowen!.All pregnancies get uncomfortable towards the end, but this one seemed particularly uncomfortable because Julie is tiny. Ti. Ny. She's one of the most petite women I know, and her hubby Shawn is six feet tall, which meant that her teensy frame had to support an awfully big belly those last few

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-3383434754909137042010-07-15T20:21:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:31:59.456-07:00

This past July 4th fell on a Sunday, and in many ways, it was like any other Sunday. First thing in the morning, we drove down to Gardena to meet our dear friends Julie, Shawn, and Nolan for dim sum. It was, as always, very nice to see them, but later in the day I had someone even more exciting to hang out with....The Boo! . For two whole years, it was just the two of us. Since his sister's

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-88971483784602608232010-07-13T07:47:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:32:55.966-07:00

Look at these two munchkins... Doesn't it seem like they're having a heated conversation? I wonder what they were talking about. I went over to find out, but as soon as they spotted me, the conversation abruptly ended. I guess I'll never know!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-74122801841725045562010-07-11T22:06:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:35:21.065-07:00

On the final day of our Weekend of Wonders, we met with friends for a summer concert in the park.. Since we never pass up an opportunity to dine together, the hubbies went to nearby Piknic Restaurant to order take-out. I try my darndest to keep this blog happy and positive, so I won't discuss how we now feel about this establishment. Let's just say that they're lucky that they're the only

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-68135362798514097152010-07-09T11:09:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:40:18.871-07:00

Every year, the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation hosts open houses at various distruct refuse yards. If you're thinking that the last place you'd like to go to an open house is at a trash collection site, then think again! It's actually really interesting - and not at all smelly!. Julie and Shawn took Nolan last year, and he had so much fun that the families Chan and Ilardi joined in this time

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-43890484253123587732010-07-07T11:44:00.001-07:002010-10-15T14:43:07.042-07:00

One of the great things about being a parent is getting the chance to revisit all the fun stuff you loved as a child, such as blowing bubbles, visiting Disneyland, and sitting on Santa's lap (for most kids, anyway - not so much for Benjamin). In addition to the cool things we had when we were little, there's a slew of new activities for today's lucky youngsters. We managed to cram several of

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-24479133164738399252010-07-06T14:53:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:46:39.044-07:00

A few weeks ago, we celebrated Vince's first Father's Day as a dad of two. We started the day off by presenting him with a gift - a silver keychain hand-stamped with a sweet message from the kids. Vince was probably hoping that the message would read, "Free pass from having to pick up your dirty socks for a year, Daddy" or "Have fun playing Gears of War for the rest of the weekend, Daddy," but

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-19098504747708920092010-06-30T12:38:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:47:08.812-07:00

A few days ago, we received a large package in the mail from cousin Matt and Amy Chan and fam in Chicago. Imagine our suprise when we opened it up to discover a plush Calliope doll inside! Fine, fine... The doll was actually a likeness of the title character from the cartoon "Ni Hao,Kai-lan," but you must admit the resemblance is remarkable. Now when people comment that Calliope's a doll, I can

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-73140539813528150172010-06-28T20:21:00.001-07:002010-10-15T14:48:52.850-07:00

I've written countless songs for and inspired by the Boo. Some of the songs-- Ok, most of the songs are kind of silly. The Booby Song comes to mind here. But some of the songs are more poignant. The first one was a little ditty about how his birth created a family and how, no matter how much he grows, he will always be my darling little baby. He asks for me to sing it to him almost every night

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-8756640855636406092010-06-28T15:53:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:49:41.402-07:00

Only three more hours until backup-- I mean, Vince comes home...

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-43847564302103112212010-06-24T08:00:00.001-07:002010-10-15T14:50:22.827-07:00

Benjamin has taken sibling rivalry to a new low. The other day, he ran to me screaming, "Mei Mei took wheels!" When I checked, I saw that her chubby little hand was, indeed, grasping a wheel from one of Benjamin's toy cars. What Benjamin didn't know was that I saw him place the wheel in her hand. I'd read in some study that lying by young children is actually a sign of intelligence because it

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-56732365937519133582010-06-21T13:33:00.001-07:002010-10-15T14:52:01.872-07:00

Last Monday was a bittersweet day. It was the day my firstborn child graduated... from his Mommy and Me class..Before you laugh, consider this: Benjamin has been attending this school for more than half of his life! He first started in the fall of 2008 when he was barely six months old, and now, at the ripe old age of 2 years and 4 months, he's received his diploma and is ready to take on the

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-26673013836100941642010-06-16T14:02:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:54:04.808-07:00

Adjusting to life with two kids has been easier than I'd anticipated. Don't get me wrong - most days I run around with an empty stomach and undone hair trying desperately to keep up with my life. Still, I pretty much knew what to expect before I had Calliope because I'd already had Benjamin. The only thing that I wasn't experienced with was dealing with sibling issues, and I had some concerns.

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-48456920590212202682010-06-09T09:59:00.000-07:002010-10-15T14:57:08.582-07:00

Me, Julie, Mona, and Kathleen at Royal/T CafeMy dear pal and neighbor Julie is going to have her second baby next month. To celebrate, me and her friends Mona and Kathleen (who also recently had baby number two!) decided to throw her a shower.. It wasn't readily apparent what the color scheme should be, because Julie and Shawn are keeping the sex of the baby a surprise. I know, I know... How

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-64482008828839683762010-06-05T21:42:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:04:05.777-07:00

Since Calliope was born three months ago, the amount of time Benjamin spends watching TV has gone up dramatically. Though I have no problem turning on the tube for brief periods when I need to finish dinner, use the restroom, or shut myself in a closet to quietly sob out the day's frustrations (kidding!), I really was starting to worry about just how much TV he was getting. The fact that the

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-6536587237834405482010-06-04T10:58:00.001-07:002010-10-15T15:05:05.986-07:00

My direct supervisors, Boss Benjamin and Chief CalliopeIf there's one thing a stay-at-home mom hates being asked, it's, "So what do you do all day?" What don't we do all day?? It's 11 am, and this is a list of things that I've done so far:Gotten up before everyone else to finish a sewing project Put away the laundry Dressed the kids Fed the pug Fed Benjamin Nursed Calliope three times (and a

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-13490266661747825582010-06-02T16:26:00.001-07:002010-10-15T15:05:47.318-07:00

When Benjamin was just months old, his Auntie Yvonne bought him a CD with songs that featured his name. He's been listening to that CD off and on for the last two years, and he's finally picked up some of the lyrics:Ok, so he's really only picked up a single word of the lyrics, but to be fair, it's the only word that really matters! Good job, Ben-ben-ben!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-55048318563728119792010-05-26T20:10:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:07:30.210-07:00

Earlier today, I took Calliope in for her three-month check-up. Yes, THREE MONTHS. Can you believe it? On one hand, I feel like it was just the other day that she was born. She still looks like such a little bean, and I still refer to her as a "newborn." On the other hand, there are definite signs that she's growing. Her cheeks are unbearably chubby, she is remarkably alert, and I swear that -

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-69374979811210505662010-05-26T13:31:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:09:23.369-07:00

On a recent sunny Saturday, the Chan Clan joined neighbors Satish and Monica and their daughters Anya and Anjali in the park for an afternoon of kite-flying..Benjamin was amazed by the kite, and he chased it around, yelling at the top of his lungs until he was hoarse. He didn't get a chance to steer the kite, but it's just as well; I would have worried about his 20-lb frame getting yanked up into

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-63244582525137570842010-05-19T22:38:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:11:15.100-07:00

Calliope's almost three months old now, and she and Benjamin have already developed quite a bond. Though she can't yet understand a word he's saying, Benjamin has other ways of making her feel cared for and secure..Every chance he gets, he smothers her with hugs and kisses! It's obvious that he loves his baby sister quite a lot.. And I would say that the feeling is mutual!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-74979574991831668672010-05-17T12:48:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:14:46.348-07:00

Since Calliope's birth, lots of people have asked me what spherocytosis is. Let me see if I can explain... Calliope's (and Benjamin's) red blood cells are spherical instead of donut-shaped. It is the spleen's job to filter out abnormally-shaped (i.e. non-donut-shaped) blood cells. A problem arises because the spleen doesn't recognize spherocytes as "normal" red blood cells, so what does it do? It

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-18127514493469010632010-05-15T13:12:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:17:39.693-07:00

Ever since my high school graduation, my mom and I have lived far apart. During my college years when she resided primarily in Atlanta, we were separated by a continent. After college, when my mom began spending most of her time in China, we were separated by half a world. The geographical distance, however, has never stopped her from being there by my side any time I've needed her. When I was a

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-71538310685516306212010-05-13T14:17:00.000-07:002010-10-15T21:51:54.406-07:00

This past Sunday was Mother's Day, and since it was my first one as a mom of two, I wondered if the children (and by "the children" I mean "my husband") would surprise me with something special. Well, they didn't disappoint. Imagine the surprise on my face when Benjamin presented me with my Mother's Day gift - a doggy poo bag.. Of course, there wasn't actually poo inside the poo bag; the bag was

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-63082227247045687792010-05-11T18:47:00.000-07:002010-10-15T21:52:30.165-07:00

Since turning two, Benjamin's speech has kicked into overdrive, and he's become quite the chatterbox. Sometimes he'll chatter about his basic needs ("Mama, I hungry. Mama, now, mama. Mama, I eat COOOOOOKIE."). Other times, he'll chatter about whatever happens to catch his eye at that particular moment. Like a passing car, or a bright red fire truck. Or, boobies. Yes, while strolling the aisles on

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-67056761928956281432010-05-10T21:52:00.000-07:002010-10-15T21:54:04.228-07:00

One of the reasons Vince and I didn't want to wait too long to have our second baby is because of the idea that our kids might be close enough in age that they would be able to grow up playing with each other. Even so, we didn't expect Calliope to really be able to interact with Benjamin until she was at least a year or two old. Benjamin wasn't willing to wait that long..He spent the first month

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-58903941355837898202010-05-07T15:18:00.000-07:002010-10-15T21:54:37.488-07:00

Because men do stuff like this:.Enough said.

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-79425762305359869002010-05-02T19:37:00.000-07:002010-10-15T21:56:19.107-07:00

Several weeks ago, we decided to finally have our family portrait taken professionally. Benjamin's mohawk was looking good, Vince's coif was neat and trimmed, my eyebrows were freshly waxed, and Calliope - six weeks old at the time - was finally starting to plump up and look less like a fetus. So bright and early on a Saturday morning, we met up with the wonderful Gloria Plunkett and got to

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-14873250800062209742010-04-30T13:25:00.001-07:002010-10-15T21:59:09.075-07:00

A few weeks ago during a mundane trip to our local Best Buy, Benjamin had a life-changing experience. No, he didn't kiss a girl for the first time or see the Virgin Mary on a piece of toast. That was the day he saw his first electric guitar..The shopping excursion started out routinely enough. I browsed the CDs, Vince shopped the video games, and the kids tagged along. But then Benjamin grew

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-57496903822909800422010-04-27T07:33:00.000-07:002010-10-15T21:59:45.323-07:00

For the art project during class yesterday, the kids made teddy bear puppets. They were given paper sacks and brown construction paper for the body, yellow construction paper for the face, and a brown pom pom for the nose. Each child also received red circle stickers to be used as eyes. Benjamin decided to use his red circles in a different way, though, and instead he-- Well, why don't you take a

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-50140264630123213092010-04-26T13:35:00.000-07:002010-10-15T22:01:07.673-07:00

It's hard to believe that it's already been two months since Calliope was born. It seems like just the other day I was the size of a whale with swollen ankles and just one child to chase after. Now, I've lost my whale-esque proportions, but it's mainly because I've got two rugrats keeping me busy - so busy that I often forget to eat. Thanks, kids! No really... THANKS..Calliope's two-month

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-41752939561803054572010-04-25T13:22:00.001-07:002010-10-15T22:01:42.627-07:00

Step 1. Print the above image onto cardstock or other stiff, heavyweight paper. Step 2. Cut out each individual image of Calliope. Step 3. Stack images together, keeping them in original order (top to bottom, left to right).Step 4. Staple the stack on the left side to make a little booklet.Step 5. Flip through the book quickly to see Calliope's facial expression change.Step 6. Ask yourself what

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-39747543899822118842010-04-24T20:30:00.000-07:002010-10-15T22:04:46.966-07:00

Almost a year ago, Benjamin and I took a field trip to the neighborhood fire station. At the time, he was just shy of a year-and-a-half and was still unable to fully appreciate how very cool the fire station could be to a toddler. Sure, he enjoyed gaping at the big red firetrucks and even standing inside of one, but he was still too little to be able to explore it much on his own. Well, a few

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-71217433413524829692010-04-13T14:45:00.001-07:002010-10-15T22:06:34.864-07:00

Since bringing her home, I've wanted to take close-up shots of Calliope's face similar to the ones I took of Benjamin when he was a newborn. As you may have noticed, that hasn't happened. I know what you're thinking: I'm suffering from N.P.S.C.S. (No Pictures of the Second Child Syndrome). I assure you that I'm not! The reason why you haven't seen any close-ups of Calliope's mug is because when I

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-18116214218838990212010-04-11T14:45:00.000-07:002010-10-15T22:08:01.961-07:00

The other afternoon, Benjamin was quietly playing in his playroom when I suddenly heard him cry, "Hao Po? HAO PO??" My mother had long since left Los Angeles, so what was he talking about? Was my child hallucinating? I ran over to see what was going on, and saw that he was playing with his little Lego family, and Hao Po was missing..Right away, we began to look for Hao Po. After dumping out every

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1088428840167567208.post-20689964727832922602010-04-06T17:49:00.001-07:002010-10-15T22:08:37.119-07:00

After seeing my last blog post, my friend Yvonne sent me this email:Okay, this is cute and all... But more pictures of YOU with your kids!! This is the bad part of being the photographer in the family. :)So by popular-- I mean, Yvonne's demand, I went through all the photos I'd taken since Calliope's birth and collaged the ones in which I appeared with the kids. Here you go, Vonner!

lilyliuchan@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132452091031773368noreply@blogger.com2